Agricultural Best Management Practices For Protecting Water Quality Recommended by Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission and approved by the EPD.

Agricultural Best Management Practices

For Protecting Water Quality

Recommended by Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission and approved by the EPD.

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Conservation Tillage Systems

Growing crops with minimum disturbance of the soil

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Contour Farming & TerracingPrevent water from running downhill by plowing with

the land’s natural contour

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Stripcropping

Alternating crops in strips with sod

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Filter Strips

Sod or plants placed in areas where water runs when it rains

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Grassed Waterways

A grassed channel in a field where water can be channeled

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Cover Crops & Crop Rotation

•Crops planted on bare soil to reduce erosion•Growing crops in different places on a rotating schedule

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Nutrient Management

Soil testing and fertilizer application to prevent applying too many nutrients

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Integrated Pest Management

A total approach to managing crop pests to reduce the use of pesticides

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Irrigation Water Management

Controlling amount of water applied to prevent excess drawdown of aquifers and surface water

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Pasture Management

Managing animals and pasture grass to reduce surface water contamination

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Agricultural Waste Management

Temporarily store manure for later application to agricultural land

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Stream Crossings

Constructing fenced crossings with gravel bases to permit livestock to cross at designated places

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Stream Buffers

Strips planted or natural vegetation maintained on sides of streams

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Critical & Heavy Traffic Area Management

•Plantings to stabilize highly erodable land•Gravel placed in areas where livestock travel routinely

Agricultural Best Management Practices

Composting

“Cooking” dead birds and poultry manure in compost piles